Jackie Chan, Jason Momoa & Bollywood Star Shah Rukh celebrate the ‘joy of cinema’ in Saudi Arabia

 

Wed 16 October 2019:

Shah Rukh Khan was given the Most Prominent International Celebrity Award at the Joy Forum 2019 Awards Night.

Fifteen international actors, including Jackie Chan, Jason Momoa, and Shahrukh Khan, received awards at the Joy Excellence Awards gala ceremony in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh on Monday.

Turki Al Al-Sheikh, the chairman of the GEA’s board of directors, welcomed the acclaimed guests and presented each of them with a falcon-shaped award.

The king of Bollywood, @iamsrk , was honored at #JoyForum19, Riyadh?? for his contribution to the world’s film industry. pic.twitter.com/64opRuWaA7

— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) October 15, 2019

Jason Momoa, best known for his roles in Aquaman and Game of Thrones, thanked his Saudi Arabian fans, adding “The joy of cinema, I now get to spread. I was here in 2017, and I fell in love with your country. It’s very beautiful.”

During his thank-you speech, Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan praised the “hospitality, the warmth, the goodness, and the love” that he experienced on his first trip to the Kingdom.

“Cinema has opened up here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. You have so many new stories to tell, and we as the world look forward to being of help in any which way that we can,” Khan said.

 

According to Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA), the Joy Premium Award is “designed to be handed to those who spread the joy and happiness around the world and in our Joyful land of Saudi Arabia.”

The award show was part of the JOY Entertainment Industry Forum 2019. The recipients of the awards were chosen “based on public opinion,” according to organizers.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

‘ ‫ الصقر هو حيواني المفضل، لأنه نبيل وقوي، كبلدكم” ????‬ ‫نجم أفلام القتال فان دام أثناء تسلمه جائزة في منتدى ⁧‫#صناعة_الترفيه‬⁩ الذي أقيم في العاصمة السعودية الرياض.‬ ‫ رائع أن نرى هذا التجمع العالمي للفنانين في السعودية .. عمار يا دار سلمان ‬ ‫⁧‫#موسم_الرياض‬⁩ ‬ ‘ “Falcon is one of my favorite animals. It’s noble & strong like your country” ????’ Jean Claude Van Damme words while receiving a prize at #JoyForum19 held at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia .. it’s beautiful to see all world stars gather in Saudi Arabia .. Glory to King Salman’s land ?? ‘ #JeanClaudeVanDamme #VanDamme #ActionCinema #Karate #MartialArts #KickBoxer #BloodSport #DoubleImpact

A post shared by anasalsheikh (@anas_alsheikh_alhashemi) on Oct 14, 2019 at 2:26am PDT

The two-day event, held October 13-14, featured discussions with industry pioneers about successful entertainment sectors, design strategies, and detailed plans on how to implement change.

Actors from the region, like Souad Abdullah and Nasser al-Qasabi, were also in attendance at the Gala dinner.

The Joy Entertainment Forum was organized by the GEA in line with the Kingdom’s ongoing Vision 2030 economic reform plan. Announced in 2016, Vision 2030 is a sweeping set of programs and reforms set to liberalize the economy and reduce dependence on oil revenues.

A key target for diversification is growing the Kingdom’s entertainment sector. Saudi Arabia has been pushing efforts under the Saudi Vision 2030 to include enhance entertainment across the Kingdom organized under the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), which has taken the lead in organizing events like WWE wrestling, Arabs Got Talent performances, food festivals, music concerts, and other events.
The new focus on entertainment has provided a wealth of events organized by the GEA, which has put on a series of entertainment “seasons.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Jackie chan with Jason momoa, Jean claude van damme, Shahrukh khan at Joy Forum 2019 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia? @jackiechan @jcvd @iamsrk @prideofgypsies #Jackiechan #actor #legend #superstar #joyforum19 #riyadh #saudiarabia #jasonmomoa #jcvd #shahrukhkhan @actuallyjackiechan #成龙 #成龍 #جاكي_شان #action #جکی_چان

A post shared by 成龙 Jackie Chan (@jackiechan.jb) on Oct 13, 2019 at 11:01am PDT

Riyadh Season kicked off on Friday with much-anticipated concert by K-pop boyband BTS, following Jeddah Season, a six-week entertainment that ran from June 8 to July 18, and al-Soudah Season, which included the Flowerman Festival.

The GEA also organized a five-day National Day Season in September to celebrate the Kingdom’s 89th National Day.

Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!